Jump LinksInfotainment: Few ComplaintsJeep is breaking new ground with the 2026 Grand Cherokee. The model's mostly unremarkable mid-cycle facelift is punctuated by one big change, which will give all but the base Laredo trim a new standard engine. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder looks like a big improvement over the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that came before it (and is still found in the Laredo), with more power, better fuel efficiency, and a towing-friendly torque curve that provides lots of grunt down low in the rev range. But there is a price to pay with the engine downsizing, although one that could probably be easily eliminated with some simple changes.We'll get to that later. First, let's give snaps to the other changes Jeep made to the latest Grand Cherokee and its three-row Grand Cherokee L sibling. Those changes include a much larger 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a standard offering that improves on the outgoing SUV's 10.1-inch unit. There's also a slightly tweaked front end with new headlights and a refined version of the seven-slot grille, as well as a very slightly reshaped rear fascia and lower valence. Jeep also promises greater value for money with the new Grand Cherokee. That all sounds pretty good, but unfortunately, nothing's perfect...First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on CarBuzz for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon. What's Changed For 2026? The current Grand Cherokee, codename WL, has been on the market since the 2021 model year when it debuted in long-wheelbase, three-row form. Back then, you could still get the Hemi V8 under the hood, an option that went away after 2023, leaving the standard 3.6-liter V6 as the only available mill. But for 2026, engine downsizing has reached new levels with the turbocharged Hurricane 2.0-liter. Making a healthy 324 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, the new four-banger makes 31 more horses and 72 lb-ft more than the V6 it kinda-sorta replaces, splitting the difference between the Pentastar still found in the Laredo and the bygone, discontinued 5.7-liter Hemi.Apart from the aforementioned styling and electronic alterations, the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee will now be available in three core model lines: Laredo, Limited, and Summit – gone are the Overland and Summit Reserve trims, and the old Altitude model has become a styling-oriented package on the Laredo trim that also adds the Hurricane four-cylinder.The old Overland's content has been folded into a new-for-2026 Reserve package for the Limited, a move that will save those customers more than $6,000 relative to 2025, and the current Summit is equipped similarly to the previous Summit Reserve, effectively bringing that price down nearly $3,000. Gone is last year's stripped-down, 4x2-only Laredo A, and this year's Laredo and Limited base prices rise by mere hundreds of dollars, a refreshing change of pace in this inflation-addled times. Exterior Design: As Handsome As Ever We spent all of our time behind the wheel of a loaded Grand Cherokee Summit L, which we think is the most appealing configuration insofar as styling is concerned. The added length gives the midsize Jeep real presence on the road, especially in combination with the flagship trim's lacy 21-inch wheels and delicate brushed-chrome body jewelry. The new Grand Cherokee features new LED eyebrows over the headlights and a subtly restyled seven-slot grille – both improvements over an already handsome design – but unless it's parked side by side with its immediate predecessor, the changes aren't obvious.Brett T. Evans/CarBuzz/Valnet The same is true around back, where a new rear bumper cover does away with the vestigial exhaust cutouts in favor of an invisible, bottom-exit design and a more seamless appearance. 2026 also brings a couple of new color choices to the lineup, including the launch-spec Copper Shino metallic orange and a subtle and appealing new Steel Blue option – part of the company's no-cost red, white, and blue color choices to celebrate America's 250th birthday this year.Otherwise, changes are minimal, and so are our complaints. The floating roof that's most obvious on the short-wheelbase Grand Cherokee is looking pretty dated these days, and higher trims mandate a two-tone color scheme that puts the formerly trendy design element on full display. Otherwise, the Grand Cherokee is pretty nearly flawless as its styling is concerned. Interior: Style And Substance The Grand Cherokee, especially the six- or seven-seat L variant, is a commendably spacious midsize SUV. As before, there's plenty of room in the front and second rows, and the rearmost cabin is even decently habitable – thank you, Jeep, for not trying to cram three seat belts back there. Materials are fabulous in the Summit model we tested, with soft Nappa leather upholstery, genuine metallic brightwork, and beautiful planks of matte-finished oak trim.A 19-speaker McIntosh audio system, panoramic moonroof, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row seats also come standard on the Summit, which starts at $60,195 plus $1,995 destination in two-row form; the Grand Cherokee L is $2,000 more expensive.2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Interior 2The lower trims aren't nearly as lucky in terms of self-indulgent delights, however. The $43,815 Limited, for example, has faux-leather seats without ventilation, and the center console is crafted from hard, tacky plastic that makes the cabin feel cheaper than it is. Adding a third row and four-wheel drive turns the volume-selling Grand Cherokee trim into a nearly $50,000 proposition with destination and handling - a sum that gets a much ritzier cabin if you go for a Hyundai Palisade.Meanwhile, the cloth-upholstered, V6-powered Laredo is a decent loss leader for the Grand Cherokee lineup, offering enough space and technology without demanding too much at the finance desk. That leaves us tempted to recommend going for either the cheap (and cheap-feeling) base model or the immensely sophisticated Summit, since the middle-tier Limited doesn't feel nice enough for the money. Infotainment: Few Complaints Brett T. Evans/CarBuzz/Valnet The 2026 Grand Cherokee Laredo comes standard with Uconnect 5 software on an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Add the Altitude package and suddenly there are a lot more pixels to play with, since it brings the 12.3-inch center display to the table, which every higher trim gets as standard. Only the larger display was on hand at the first drive of the 2026 Grand Cherokee, and it makes great use of the latest Uconnect system's logical menu layout and reliable wireless smartphone mirroring. Using the segmented home view in Apple CarPlay, for example, leaves plenty of room for maps, calendar events, and music to be displayed simultaneously. The only real issue we have with the Grand is that its digital instrument cluster remains difficult to use – just find a view you like on the first day you own it and leave it as-is. Powertrain & Driving: Begging For More Jeep is rightfully proud of its new Hurricane turbo-four engine's output: 322 hp and 334 lb-ft is plenty for a class of vehicle that usually measures such numbers in the mid-200s. Thanks to a simple pre-ignition chamber mounted over the spark plug (technology inspired by the Maserati Nettuno V6, of all things), the Hurricane engine provides more complete combustion, leading to reduced emissions, more power, and lower fuel consumption – at least in theory.Brett T. Evans/CarBuzz/ValnetIn practice, Jeep's powertrain tuning leaves a lot to be desired. Whether you're driving in Comfort, Normal, or Sport mode, the throttle responds to your right foot's demands with zero urgency. Mash the throttle and you get a solid "one-mississippi" before any forward momentum happens, meaning if you're making an unprotected left, passing slower traffic, or merging onto the highway, you'd better plan your moves well in advance.Brett T. Evans/CarBuzz/ValnetFrustratingly, the problem doesn't seem related to turbo lag or any other deficiency of the engine itself. If that were the case, you'd at least get a little acceleration upon flooring it while the turbo spools up. But in the new powertrain, you literally get nothing while you wait for the transmission to kick down, then a whole wallop of boosted torque and horsepower. That makes us think the throttle response issue could very easily be solved with a reprogramming trip to the ECU, tuning the transmission and accelerator to respond with a bit more pertness.2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Exterior 1Once you've muscled past the laggard transmission kickdown and/or accelerator tuning, there's more than enough grunt for even the heaviest L Summit variant to get out of its own way, and Jeep claims a 6,200-pound towing capacity for the midsize SUV, which is just about class-leading if you omit the V8-powered Dodge Durango.Ride and handling are also rather perfect for the Jeep's use case – primarily that of a family commuter or road trip machine – but if you want to sample its off-road credentials, you need to step all the way up to a Summit trim if you want a two-speed transfer case. Opting for the flagship also gets you four-corner air suspension, which rides smoothly on even broken pavement and enables up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance. Verdict & Pricing: Go Big Or Go Home We touched on it already, but there's a fair amount of value at the top and bottom ends of the Grand Cherokee lineup. The base two-row Laredo starts at $38,415, while the nicely equipped X package (heated front seats, sunroof, a power liftgate, and more) is a $2,495 option. The Laredo Altitude, which gets the newcomer four-cylinder engine, larger touchscreen, and some dark-finish cosmetic add-ons, is a $43,855 proposition, while the leatherette-upholstered Limited costs a bit less, at $43,815. Full-time all-wheel drive costs $2,000 even, as does upgrading to the three-row Grand Cherokee L.Jeep The 4x4 system comes standard on the Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve, which starts at $51,410 in two-row form or $53,410 as a seven-seater. Meanwhile, the flagship Summit trim is a $60,195 or $62,195 expense, depending on seating capacity. We think the smart money is probably either the V6-powered Laredo with the X package or the flagship Summit. Even though they represent opposite sides of the range, the cheaper example is more spacious and stylish than many other SUVs at the price, while the Summit is deeply luxurious while costing thousands less than similarly sized BMW or Mercedes SUVs.2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Exterior 2Honestly, apart from the mediocre off-the-line response – which we think Jeep could easily and cheaply fix via a mid-year update or recall campaign – the Grand Cherokee remains the same wonderful SUV it's always been, dating back to the first-generation ZJ model. Like its distant predecessor, there's a lot of space, comfort, and finesse built into today's midsize Jeep. We can even say with some confidence that the turbocharged engine does nothing to detract from that reputation and, in fact, might enhance it in time. Once the nits get picked out, Jeep will have a real winner in the 2026 Grand Cherokee.